London, June 9 (TNS): Chelsea face the prospect of losing Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on a free transfer in a year’s time if they do not sell the Belgium international this summer.
Reportedly, Courtois has rejected the offer of a new contract that would have made him the best-paid goalkeeper in the English Premier League, telling friends that he wants to leave Chelsea in the current transfer window if possible.
Ideally, Courtois would like a move to Madrid where his two young children are based. While Real Madrid has a long-standing interest in the 26-year-old, the European champions have made no concrete attempt to sign him this summer and are understood to be closer to bidding for from Brazil international Allison.
An alternative route back to Spanish football would be to rejoin Atletico Madrid, the club where Courtois won three major trophies while on a long-term loan from Chelsea between 2011 and 2014. Atletico’s current No. 1, Jan Oblak, has been targeted by several leading clubs aware of the Slovenian’s €100 million ($117 million) release clause and may have to be replaced this summer.
According to a Chelsea source, the London club has placed a similar valuation on Courtois, who also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain before the French club entered discussions with free agent Gianluigi Buffon. Chelsea’s chances of realizing such a sum for an individual prepared to run down his final year of the contract if necessary are minimal.
The highest transfer fee ever achieved for a goalkeeper remains the €52 million Juventus paid Parma for Buffon over a decade and a half ago. While that record is expected to fall this summer, Chelsea’s position is further weakened by the Premier League’s decision to unilaterally close its window for incoming players on August 9 — more than three weeks ahead of the rest of Europe.
Germany international Bernd Leno is also under consideration at Anfield. A more economical option as Bayer Leverkusen have already secured “a high-quality successor” in Lukas Hradecky and have publicly stated their readiness to sell, Leno has been priced at €25m. Alternative options include Barcelona reserve Jasper Cillessen, who has a €60 million release clause.
Courtesy: Arab News
